Garlands of red and yellow flowers, on Ugadi

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In celebration of the Hindu New Year. Garlands galore, in celebration of Ugadi

If you happen to be in one of the southern states of Karnataka, Telangana or Andhra Pradesh today, you’d probably get to see a lot of flowers such as the ones on today’s home page. Its New Year’s Day in southern India today. In other words, it’s the first day of the Hindu calendar month Chaitra. Ugadi is observed with traditional gifts of generosity, family celebrations, rangoli designs made with flowers in front of houses; and mango leaf decorations on doors. People also choose to celebrate themselves on this day, with special herbal treatments and baths.